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A Clarke County woman living near Boyce whose claim for supplies taken by Union forces in 1864 went from Congress to the Court of Claims in 1888, was valued at $1,002 in 1891 and appropriated in 1899. Her family knows her as Mary Frances (Bell) Lewis of Locust Grove.
Mary F. Lewis's petition, as the Court of Claims summarized it, said she lived near Boyce and that United States forces under Gen. P. H. Sheridan took quartermaster stores and commissary supplies from her Clarke County farm in 1864 worth $1,925.
Mary F. Lewis's petition, as the Court of Claims summarized it, said she lived near Boyce and that United States forces under Gen. P. H. Sheridan took quartermaster stores and commissary supplies from her Clarke County farm in 1864 worth $1,925.
What she claimed, and how much.
These are her allegations, not the court's findings. The court found a different value.
Evidence role: supports. The allegation and its total.
United States Court of Claims, transmitted to the House of Representatives · 1892-01-19 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, allegations of the petition
Relevant passageThat she is a citizen of the United States, residing near Boyce, Clarke County, State of Virginia, where she resided during the late war of the rebellion; that at different times during said period the United States forces, by proper authority, took from your petitioner quartermaster stores and commissary supplies of the value of $1,925
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: court-of-claims-5328-lewis. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. Sheridan's forces and her farm.
United States Court of Claims, transmitted to the House of Representatives · 1892-01-19 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, after the schedule
Relevant passageAll of the above property was taken by and for the use of the United States armies, commanded by Gen. P. H. Sheridan, from claimant's farm, in Clarke County, Va.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: court-of-claims-5328-lewis. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-23. How this project checks its sources
On December 7, 1891, the Court of Claims found that stores and supplies had been taken from the claimant's farm in Clarke County in 1864 for the use of the Army, and that their reasonable value was $1,002.
On December 7, 1891, the Court of Claims found that stores and supplies had been taken from the claimant's farm in Clarke County in 1864 for the use of the Army, and that their reasonable value was $1,002.
The court valuation, distinct from both the claim and any payment.
A finding of value reported to Congress. It is not an award paid and not a payment.
Evidence role: supports. The finding of fact and its filing date.
United States Court of Claims, transmitted to the House of Representatives · 1892-01-19 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, findings of fact
Relevant passageThere was taken from the claimant's farm in Clark County, Va., in 1864, stores and supplies, as above set forth, for the use of the Army, the reasonable value of which was $1,002. ... Filed December 7, 1891.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: court-of-claims-5328-lewis. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-23. How this project checks its sources
The act of March 3, 1899, chapter 426, directed the Secretary of the Treasury to pay "Mary F. Lewis, of Clarke County, one thousand and two dollars," in full and final release of her claim.
The act of March 3, 1899, chapter 426, directed the Secretary of the Treasury to pay "Mary F. Lewis, of Clarke County, one thousand and two dollars," in full and final release of her claim.
That $1,002 was appropriated to her.
An appropriation authorizes and directs payment; it does not show that money was paid, when, to whom, or net of any attorney's fee. No Treasury payment record has been examined.
Evidence role: supports. Her entry in the Virginia list, read from the page image.
United States Congress · 1899-03-03 (creation)
Locator: Page 1185, Virginia list
Relevant passageTo Mary F. Lewis, of Clarke County, one thousand and two dollars.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: statutes-at-large-30-ch426. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The direction to pay and the full-and-final-release terms.
United States Congress · 1899-03-03 (creation)
Locator: Page 1161, enacting clause
Relevant passageThat the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to pay, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to claimants in this Act named the several sums appropriated herein, the same being in full for, and the receipt of the same to be taken and accepted in each case as a full and final release and discharge of their respective claims
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: statutes-at-large-30-ch426. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: contextualizes. Where payment was to go if a claimant had died.
United States Congress · 1899-03-03 (creation)
Locator: Pages 1213-1214, closing provisions
Relevant passageIn case of the death of any claimant, or death or discharge of any executor or administrator of any claimant herein named, then payment of such claim as herein provided shall be made to the legal representatives
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: statutes-at-large-30-ch426. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-23. How this project checks its sources
The essay identifies the claimant as Mary Frances (Bell) Lewis of Locust Grove, and the losses it lists match the court's summary of Mary F. Lewis's claim: two horses, 755 bushels of corn, 50 of wheat, three barrels of flour, 14 hogs, 15 sheep, 85 turkeys and 75 chickens, in August, November and December.
The essay identifies the claimant as Mary Frances (Bell) Lewis of Locust Grove, and the losses it lists match the court's summary of Mary F. Lewis's claim: two horses, 755 bushels of corn, 50 of wheat, three barrels of flour, 14 hogs, 15 sheep, 85 turkeys and 75 chickens, in August, November and December.
Why the court claimant and the woman of Locust Grove are taken to be the same.
The connection to the house comes from the family account. The federal records do not name Locust Grove, Westbrook or her maiden name.
Evidence role: supports. The essay's line of descent to Locust Grove.
Barry H. Lewis, in Clarke Monthly · 2026-09 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, family history and "The Civil War"
Relevant passageTheir daughter Mary Frances Bell married Thomas D. Lewis, and Locust Grove came into the Lewis family. ... My great-great grandmother, Mary Frances (Bell) Lewis, Thomas having died in 1862, had regular encounters with Union soldiers.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: lewis-family-account-2026. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The essay's list of losses.
Barry H. Lewis, in Clarke Monthly · 2026-09 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, "The Civil War"
Relevant passageIn August, November, and December, ... supplies, grain, and livestock were taken. Two horses were taken. Seven hundred fifty-five bushels of corn, 50 bushels of wheat, and three barrels of flour were taken. Fourteen hogs, 15 sheep, 85 turkeys, and 75 chickens were confiscated.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: lewis-family-account-2026. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The court's summary of the claimed items.
United States Court of Claims, transmitted to the House of Representatives · 1892-01-19 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, itemized schedule, 1864
Relevant passageAug. 11. One saddle and harness horse ... One strong work horse ... Aug. 14. Fourteen hogs ... Nov. 15. Fifteen sheep ... Seven hundred and twenty bushels corn ... Aug. 10, 11. Fifty bushels wheat ... Eighty-five turkeys ... Seventy-five chickens and other fowls ... Dec. 10. Three barrels family flour ... Thirty-five bushels corn ... 1,925.00
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: court-of-claims-5328-lewis. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. Near Boyce, Clarke County.
United States Court of Claims, transmitted to the House of Representatives · 1892-01-19 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, allegations of the petition
Relevant passageThat she is a citizen of the United States, residing near Boyce, Clarke County, State of Virginia, where she resided during the late war of the rebellion; that at different times during said period the United States forces, by proper authority, took from your petitioner quartermaster stores and commissary supplies of the value of $1,925
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: court-of-claims-5328-lewis. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-23. How this project checks its sources
Also indexed as: Mary Francis Lewis; Mary Frances (Bell) Lewis. Life dates that aren't known aren't guessed at here.
Know who this was, or something the records here miss? Help fill a gap. It stays private until it is reviewed.
In 1864, according to her later claim, Union forces took horses, livestock and grain from Mary F. Lewis's farm near Boyce. The record follows her claim to a court valuation and an 1899 appropriation. Whether the money was paid has not been found.
What the evidence says Three federal records for the claim, the valuation and the appropriation; a family essay for the rest. No payment record.